YM Volunteer Awards Ceremony 2024-2025: “From Learning to Serving: Youth in Action”
At the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (YMCA), we have always believed in bringing people together to nurture a spirit of volunteerism in our young people, support those in need, and build a better community together. This year’s “YM Volunteer Awards Ceremony 2024-2025” was held on 26 October, a special day to celebrate and honour our wonderful volunteers. With the theme “From Learning to Serving: Youth in Action” , the event encouraged our youth to apply what they have leant and skills into practice through service, making a difference in society and shining in their own unique ways.
We were delighted to welcome Mr. Eric Chan, JP, Commissioner for Youth of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, as our guest of honour. He delivered an inspiring address and was joined by Dr. Arnold Cheng, our President; the Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Soo, JP, our Director and Chairman of Service Development & Member Affairs Committee; and Mr. Johnny Wong, our Acting General Secretary, to officiate the ceremony.
This year, we saw a record-breaking 21,595 volunteers registered, who generously contributed over 110,473 hours of service. It is a wonderful reflection of the community’s passion and support for the work we do at YMCA.
In his heartfelt remarks, Mr. Eric Chan, JP expressed, his sincere gratitude to all the award-winning volunteers for their contributions to society. He also praised the YMCA for its longstanding support of the Bureau’s initiatives. Mr. Chan encouraged young people to stay connected with society while equipping themselves, to actively participate inserving the nation and the community, and to embody and spread positive energy.
Our President Dr. Arnold Cheng shared, “The volunteer services we champion at YMCA are deeply connected to the Government’s “Youth Development Blueprint”. We are dedicated to nurturing a new generation of young people who love our country and Hong Kong, who have a global perspective, and who are filled with aspirations and positivity. We encourage young people not just to study hard, but to take what they learn and put it into practice through volunteering, using their unique talents to contribute to society.”
Our award-winning volunteers showed incredible creativity in designing their own service projects, including an original detective and forensics-themed camp created by secondary school students to spark problem-solving skills in their peers; festive activities organised by primary and Form 1 students to promote environmental care in the community; grassroots women sharing their skills to meet local needs; and heartfelt projects supporting the hearing-impaired, individuals in drug rehabilitation, and the elderly.
A special highlight was the “Detective Team”, a group of four inspiring senior secondary students who received the “Outstanding Volunteer Group Award “. Even while facing the immense pressure of their DSE exams, the team poured their hearts into planning their original detective activity. They took care of every detail – from writing funding proposals and creating a script to preparing props and promoting the event. Their dedication brought together nearly 60 secondary school students, helping them discover their potential and build positive friendships, showcasing the incredible power and spirit of teamwork among our youth.
Through our “YM Volunteer@SCHOOL” programme, we partner with schools to nurture a culture of giving back, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, we were thrilled that 58 secondary schools met the commendation standard of completing at least 100 service hours campus-wide, with over 34,080 students contributing a total of more than 221,913 service hours. The Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards for the SDGs Themed Project went to Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School, St. Mark’s School, and Chinese YMCA College, respectively. The Gold award-winning school’s project supported over 200 low-income families by recycling home appliances and organising community visits, improving their living conditions and spreading warmth and care.
Every year, our YMCA community is filled with meaningful and impactful volunteer projects, and this year was no exception. A wonderful example is the “Lyrics of the Soul” Cantopop Mental Wellness Contest. Moving beyond traditional approaches, this competition brought together Cantopop and mental health education, using the power of lyrics and music to share messages of self-care and companionship. It spread a message of hope throughout our community and was proudly recognised by the Hong Kong Social Welfare Sector Heart to Heart Joint Action as an award winner at the “Connecting Hearts” Social Welfare Good Stories Awards Ceremony.
Green in HK @ Wu Kwai Sha Eco-Market
At YMCA, we are passionate about building a sustainable future. We are delighted to announce that our “Green in HK” project, spearheaded by our Environmental Working Group, will be hosting a vibrant Eco-Market at our Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village. Come and explore around 40 stalls offering a fantastic selection of eco-friendly products and creative crafts. Alongside the market, there will be plenty of fun for the whole family, with eco-themed games, live music performances, campsite activities, a tree-climbing experience, and a bouncy castle. Admission is free—come and join us!
Date: Sunday, 16 November 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Venue: YMCA Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village (2 On Chun Street, Ma On Shan)
Activities: Eco-market stalls, green games and experiences, live music, campsite activities, tree-climbing, and a bouncy castle.
For enquiries: 2557 3747 (Mr. So)
Chinese YMCA College Wins Special Gold Award in Science Competition
Led by Mr Cheung, the Head of Chinese YMCA College’s Innovation and Technology Team, the students’ winning proposal stood out in the “Hong Kong Secondary Student Space Station Popular Science Payload and Science Experiment Design Challenge”, which co-organised by the Education Bureau, the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, among other institutions. The award ceremony took place on 21 September 2025. The award-winning project is now undergoing optimisation with guidance from a team of experts and is being considered for recommendation as part of the “Space Station Hong Kong Popular Science Satellite ” national aerospace mission in the future, operated by payload specialists on the space station.
Chinese Y.M.C.A Secondary School Students Excel in Innovation and Technology Competitions
Four Form 2 students from Chinese Y.M.C.A Secondary School won first place in the Junior Category of PolyU Fun-Tech Competition 2024/25 (Creative RFID Competition), an event organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Innovation and Technology Commission. Their project successfully utilised Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for automatic identification and data exchange in a medical technology application. In a separate competition, three Form 3 and Form 5 students received a Merit Award in Astron Space Lab 3, co-organised by PolyU’s Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering. For this challenge, the students learned Python programming and applied it to develop an application for collecting, analysing, and calculating operational data for the International Space Station.
Unlock Your Soul : Back² School (sub-programme of Chillax Y2K) Spreads Positivity to Students*
To kick off the new school year, our Chillax Y2K Youth Mental Health Support Programme launched the Unlock Your Soul : Back² School in September 2025. This special mobile roadshow travelled through secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Hong Kong Island’s Eastern District, as well as the bustling heart of Causeway Bay, to share positive messages about mental wellbeing with students and the wider community.
With a vibrant anime theme, the event blended principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the Strength-based Approach, transforming mental health knowledge into a lively and engaging exhibition inside the vehicle. Outside, interactive games created a relaxed atmosphere where participants could learn practical emotional management skills and improve their mental health literacy. The festival encouraged young people to “Embrace your beliefs!”, “Master your special skills!”, and “Unlock the true you!” to face life’s challenges with strong belief and personal strength. The event was a great success, attracting 1,528 participants. We also collected nearly 400 “Mental Health Support Cards” written by the public, which will soon be shared with students in the district to pass on the community’s care and support. At the same time, over 200 Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) questionnaires were completed. This will help us identify and follow up with young people who may be experiencing emotional distress, with appropriate support to be provided after the data is analysed.
This event demonstrated a proactive and creative approach that successfully connected with the younger generation, marking an important step forward in promoting mental health literacy and breaking down the stigma surrounding it.
YMCA College of Careers Orientation Day helps new students embark on their learning journey
To kick off the new academic year, the YMCA College of Careers held an Orientation Day Camp for new Diploma and Higher Diploma students at our Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village on 5 September 2025. The day included a college introduction, ice-breaking games, and team-building activities, allowing new students to build friendships in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Through a series of interactive games, the students quickly broke the ice, showed great enthusiasm for the journey ahead, and gained a deeper understanding of the college’s unique programmes, dedicated teaching staff, and available resources.
Several distinguished guests were present to show their support, including Dr. Jim Hui, our Acting Deputy General Secretary; Dr. Thomas Man, Chief Education Officer; and Dr. Shirley Hui, Assistant Principal. Their presence demonstrated the great importance the college places on its new students. The event was a resounding success, effectively fostering a sense of belonging among the new students and laying a solid foundation for their academic journey, fully embodied the college’s educational philosophy and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of young talent.
JC LevelMind Fest 2025: Over a thousand young people explore mental wellbeing*
With generous funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, we have established “LevelMind” centres at our Tin Shui Wai Tin Chak Centre and Jordan Centre, dedicated to promoting youth mental wellbeing in the Tin Shui Wai and Yau Tsim Mong districts. On 30 August 2025, our representatives attended the “JC LevelMind Fest 2025” at PMQ. The event – themed “Rediscover the Path Within” – was a huge success, attracting over a thousand participants and creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Our colleagues led young people through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and activities at our “Relax and Recharge” booth. These interactive experiences allowed them to delve deeper into mental health topics, learn to pay attention to their inner needs, and express themselves. Mr. Johnny Wong, our Acting General Secretary; and Ms. Shirley Sham, and Ms. Phoebe See, Coordinating Secretary, were all present to support the event and engaged in meaningful conversations with the youth. The young people shared their experiences and feelings about participating in mental health activities and also offered creative ideas for the newly renovated “Relax, Recharge for Body and Mind” space. We look forward to the completion of the renovation at the Tin Shui Wai Tin Chak Centre in October, which will enable us to host more community events and continue our mission of supporting youth mental wellbeing.
Our commitment to the principles of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) since 2019 reflects the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in our organisation’s approach to development and the YMCA 2030 Vision for sustainable development in Hong Kong. Apart from publishing the ESG Impact Report, YMCA also endeavours to integrate ESG concepts into our daily operations. This column is dedicated to sharing with our members our ESG initiatives regularly.
“Lyrics of the Soul” Cantopop Mental Wellness Contest Wins at the “Connecting Hearts” Social Welfare Good Stories Awards Ceremony
We are proud to announce that our “Lyrics of the Soul” Cantopop Mental Wellness Contest has been honoured as a winning project in the 2025 “Connecting Hearts” Social Welfare Good Stories Awards. As part of the Hong Kong Social Welfare Sector Heart to Heart Joint Action, this initiative promotes greater public awareness of mental health while also fulfilling the “Social Responsibility” aspect of our ESG commitments.
Our project was selected from over 200 entries and named one of just 15 winners in the “Social Welfare Projects in Hong Kong” category. Dr. Arnold Cheng, our President; Mr. Philip Poon, Vice President; and Mr. Chow Siu Ngor, solicitor and Director, attended the“Connecting Hearts” Social Welfare Good Stories Awards Ceremony & National Day Gala alongside the project team to witness this meaningful milestone in promoting positive social energy.
The “Lyrics of the Soul” Cantopop Mental Wellness Contest blends Cantopop with mental health education, encouraging young people to express messages of self-care, emotional wellbeing, and community support through their lyrics. It addresses the growing need for mental health awareness and social connection in our community. Through lyric-writing workshops, an online exhibition on Instagram, and a music sharing session, the project created a space for creativity and connection. The winning song was even professionally recorded and released, allowing its powerful message to live on.
Project Achievements:
Over 250 people registered to enter, resulting in 80 moving lyrical submissions.
The online exhibition attracted over 23,000 people who participated in the voting.
The winning song has received over 110,000 online streams and views.
Find out more: https://shorturl.at/h0oW1
This project not only highlights the creativity of our youth but also champions social inclusion and mental health education, reflecting the core values of “Social Responsibility” within ESG. We will continue to find creative and community-focused ways to amplify the stories of social welfare.
As city dwellers who often work overtime and frequently perform repetitive motions, we are more susceptible to joint pain or sports injuries that can affect our quality of life. The Association’s Health Care Professions Department is launching a regular monthly column and publishing short articles about self-care. Topics covered will include arthritis, joint pain and self-healing. For more detailed health-related information, please visit our website: hcp.ymca.org.hk or call 2783 3616for inquiries.
With the widespread use of electronic devices and the modern work environment, the number of patients with chronic neck pain in Hong Kong is increasing year by year. One often hears the question: Will chronic neck pain heal on its own?
Chronic neck pain refers to physical neck pain that persists for three months or more. Most common symptoms in citizens may be caused by degenerative changes in the cervical vertebrae (bone spurs), which can irritate or compress the cervical
nerves and surrounding soft tissues, leading to neck pain, stiffness, and limited movement. Proper stretching and strengthening of the surrounding muscles can effectively improve this condition:
Deep Neck Flexor Muscle Activation Exercise
Upper Thoracic Extension Exercise
Place your index finger in front of your chin, then retract your chin backward, slightly make a double chin, hold for 10 seconds, 10 times per hour.
Sit up straight and look forward, cross your hands and place them behind your neck, with your elbows pointing forward, slowly move upwards, hold for 10 to 15 seconds, 10 times per hour.
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